School Library Journal has given a starred review to Harlem at Four (Random House Studio) by Michael Datcher, illustrated by Frank Morrison See the full review below: This book tells the story of two Harlems. The first part follows a modern Black family, a single father and his daughter Harlem. When Harlem is four years old, her father takes her to an art museum, where they see works by famous Black artists, including Romare Bearden and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Later, the pair dances to John Coltrane and Miles Davis on the street and create science and art projects in their apartment. The father is in awe of his daughter’s fierceness and confidence: “And your eyelashes brush/ A Super Daddy ‘S’/ Across my beating chest.” The second part tells the story of the Harlem neighborhood in 1904. It serves as a tribute to Philip A. “Papa” Payton, Jr., who helped to start the Great Black Migration and the Black housing explosion in Harlem through the Afro-American Realty Company. Payton paved the way for Black families to thrive in Harlem, and for the father and daughter in the beginning of the book to later bond over the work of Black artists from Harlem […]
Standing in the Need of Prayer (Crown) by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison has been named a Boston Globe/Hornbook Award Honor Book! See the announcement here Get the book here
Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom (Random House/Step into Reading) by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, illustrated by Kim Holt, is included on the Black Children’s Books and Authors Blog list of 12 Fiction and Nonfiction Books celebrating Juneteenth. See the full list here Get the book here
Burt the Beetle Lives Here! by Ashley Spires is out now. Published by Kids Can Press, this follow-up title to Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite finds our beloved junebug star on an adventure to find the perfect home, as he learns all about other insect homes along the way. Kirkus calls the book, “a wide-ranging survey of insect homes delivered with humor and heart.” Pick up your copy today!
In a review of The Loud Librarian (Atheneum) by Jenna Beatrice, illustrated by Erika Lynne Jones, Publishers Weekly says: “Jones’s scenes lean fully into the chaos while showcasing Penelope’s cheerful resilience, and a clever conclusion emphasizes the idea that there’s a place for everyone at the library.” See the full review here Get the book here
Who Needs Friends (Nancy Paulsen Books) by Jia Liu, has been named to the Children’s Book Council Hot of the Press Reading List for June 2023. See the full list here Get the book here
